Soon after the end of the war, wool prices edged upwards. Suddenly it was possible for Ian and Blanche to think realistically of a new homestead, perhaps on Riverview. Ian began sketching diagrams, not of gas producers but of the layouts of sheds and sheep yards. Blanche started looking over house plans.
One day, while Blanche was engrossed in room layouts, Gwyneth, then about eleven, offered her own plan, carefully hand-drawn. "But that’s good, very good!" Blanche exclaimed, impressed—until she caught on to the joke: Gwyneth’s "plan" was exactly that of the much-maligned house on Gilella! Blanche laughed more heartily than she had in years.
Gordon, Dave, Blanche, Pattie, Brian, and Allie at Gilella, 1949. |
In 1948, wool prices no longer merely edged up, they zoomed. Suddenly, the status of a Tambellup farmer advanced from humble "cockey," subservient to the bank, to independent "wool baron." The pub became more convivial than ever. A wool baron jocularly offered to pay for his schooner with a wisp of wool that had happened to lodge in his hatband. The streets of Tambellup, yet unpaved, were graced by luxurious English automobiles such as Hillmans and Humbers. Ian, more conservative than most, bought a serviceable US war surplus Chevrolet utility vehicle and a used Oldsmobile car.
Anticipating that the children would soon be leaving home—Eion had already enrolled at the University of WA and Gwyneth had started at Albany High School—Blanche felt the time had come for a formal family portrait. She made the arrangements to have a photo taken at what appeared to be an attractive fee, but unfortunately the photographer focused more on saving film than on his subject, and had a professional manner about as ingratiating as Blood ’n’ Guts of the VDC at his most bellicose. "Smile!" he barked, and the result was as doleful as might have been expected.
Land prices followed wool prices—up, and up some more. In 1951 the Gittins brothers sold out for more than enough to retire on. Arthur married and went to live in the vicinity of Perth, while Charlie and John and Maud moved to Albany. Charlie and John worked as builders for a time, then after they had learned the trade well enough they put up houses for themselves at Rocky Crossing, a few miles north-west of the town. Maud took up tennis, and she had a major role in establishing a tennis club near Rocky Crossing--a place known, in the family at least, as "Aunty Maud's Playground." Others of the Gittins family eventually settled in or around Albany: Ethel and Harold, and Bert after Jean’s death. Five years after Ruby's death Ron married Betty Gomm and they settled on a farm in the King River area a few miles north-east of Albany. They doubled their holding when a neighbor, facing death, bequeathed them his farm. This gave them the means to retire, and they moved to the opal fields of Cooper Pedy in South Australia. The marriage foundered, however, and Ron eventually returned to live the rest of his life in Albany.
Ian and Blanche also decided to move to the Albany area, not to retire but to establish a farm there.
Continue reading: 3.3.2 Fulfillment
Previous Topics
3. Ian and Blanche (1929-1975) Blanche (-1988)
3.3 Riding the Wave (1946-1975)
This Topic3.3.1 Goodbye to Gilella
Next Topic3.3.2 Fulfillment
No comments:
Post a Comment